Vending apparatus



5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q l m VENDING' APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2o, 1944 y mm N T N...mud m Nav, 2, 194s;

Filed Nov. 20', 1944 c. c. coLBER-r 21,452,837v

VENDING A1=1=muvrus`v v 5 Sheets-sheet 3 Nov. 2, 1948. l g, C, COLBER-r2,452,837

'VENDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1944 5 sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 2, 1948. c.c. coLBr-:R'r 'vENDING APPARATUS A5 sheets-shea 5 Filed Nov. 20, 1944Patented Nov. 2, 1948 VENDING APPARATUS Carl C. Colbert, Columbus, Ga.,assignor to Nehi Corporation, Columbus,

Delaware Ga., a corporation of Application November 20, 1944, Serial No.564,250

This invention relates to vending machines, and

more particularly to a machine for vending bottled refrigeratedbeverages.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatusforvending cooled bottled beverages wherein'the capacity of the machinefor vending a given beverage brand or iiavor is 'greatly increase-d,thus permitting arelatively rapid sale ofthe beverage without exhaustingthe supplyv and without vending beverages which have not been properlycooled..A

A further object isto provide such an apparatus wherein a singledischarge mechanism is provided with a'plurality of sources of cooledbottles, thus greatly increasing the capacity of the apparatus withrelation to the single discharge mechanism.

A further object is to provide means operable b y the dischargemechanism for feeding cooled bottles theretoirom the plurality f Sourcesin a particular timed relationship so that the discharge mechanism drawsupon the several sources of supply in vending bottles.

A further object is to provide a single discharge mechanism comprising aconveyor operable in a step by step movement to supply successive singlebottles ci a beverage or the like to a purchaser, and to provide aplurality of stacks of cooled bottles so controlled by the ,dischargemechanismA as toproperly feed the bottles from the stacks to theconveyor.V

A further object is to provide novel Ameans op erable by the dischargeconveyor for simultane,

ously dropping one bottle from each stack to the conveyor, and toprovide means controlled bythe conveyor so that the number'of successiveoperations Aof the latter necessary for operating the bottle droppingmeans will correspond with the number of stacks of bottles whereby, uponthe discharge of the last bottlefrom` the conveyor, anv

other supply of bottles will be dropped on the conveyor from the supplystacks l A further object is to provide a conveyor for dischargingbottles wherein the conveyor has av horizontal top run on which `the'bottles are dropped, and to so arrangethe parts of the conveyor that thebottles will be cushioned in striking the conveyor, and thus beprevented from breaking` A further object is to provide a bottle vendingapparatus having a plurality of vending units for holding beverages ofdifferent flavors, the various parts of the units being so arranged asto provide for the storage andprecooling of a substantial number ofbeverage bottles. thus further increasing the capacity of the apparatus,

Claims. (Cl. S12-'46) A further object is to provide an apparatus of.

the character just referred to wherein the cooling coil in the cabinethousing the vending units is so arranged as to create a circulation ofcooled air to substantially chill the stored bottles, thus preparingthem for immediate dispensing when placed in the supply stacks of thevending units.

A further object is to'prcvide a power driven vending mechanismassociatedwith any suitablei type of coin controlled mechanism operableupon the insertion of the proper coin therein, and to provide a novelsimple control mechanism for initiating the operation of the power meansupon the insertion of the coin 'and for positively stopping 4the poweroperation upon the discharge. of the vended bottle.

A further object is to provide a novel arrange ment of parts whereby theapparatus may be easily loaded with bottles with respect to both thesupply stacks for the vending units and the stored bottles beingprecooled.

A further object is to provide a novel struc# ture wherein all of theparts of the vending machine are readily accessible and easily removablefrom the cabinet. Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent during the course of the following description In thedrawings I have shown one' embodiment of the invention. In this showing-'Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, Figure 2 is an enlargedhorizontal sectional View on line 2--2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is 'anenlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFigure 2,

parts being broken away,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on line l'4 of Figure5,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line '5-5of Figure'2, parts being` broken away,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view online 6-6 of Figure3,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view through thebottle-controlled switch,partsbeing shown in ele-r vation, and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the electrical control circuitfor the mechanism.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral Il! designates the vendingmachinecabinet as a whole comprising an upper vending machine section ll and alower section I?. for the usual refrigerating mechanism including amotorV I3, compressor Iii and refrigerant condenser coils or the like|5.

These elements are conventional and need not be referred to in detail,and it will be noted that they are completely accessible through doors|6 in which a central partition strip is eliminated to provide completeaccess to the chamber in which the refrigerating mechanism is housed.The door structure is accordingly preferably of the same general type asthe doors of the vending section of the cabinet as will be described indetail later. The compressor I4 is provided with an inlet pipe and anoutlet pipe I 'I' leading to the condenser |5, and a pipe I8 leads tothe expansion coils to be referred to later.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted' that the vending sectionI I and the refrigerating lower section I2 are divided from each otherby' a suitable partition which may be conveniently formed of upper andlower relatively rigid plates 2| and 22 spaced from each other andcontainingl therebetween a body of insulating material 23. Thispartition may be supported by structural elements' such as channels 24connected at their ends to the front and rear Walls of the casing I0.

It will become apparent that any desiredV number of vending units may beused in the casing II), and in the present instance two of s uch unitshave been illustrated.- Each unit will be considered as comprising avending sec-tion indicated as a whole by the numeral 28 and a storagesection indicated as a Whole by the numeral 2S (Figure 5). Each vendingsection 28 comprises vertical frame members 30 and 3| at the front andrear of the apparatus and connected by horizontal structural members 32at the lower ends thereof. The latter structural members seat upon theupper partition plate 2| and are fixed in proper position with respectthereto by means of short upstanding pins 33 engageable in openings 34in the structural members 32. This arrangement not only predeterminesthe proper position of each vending section 28 in the casing I0, butalso permits the removal of each vending section in a manner to bedescribed.

The corner posts 3| carry bearings 35 in which is journalled a shaft 3l,and this shaft carries a pair of spaced sprockets 38 around which passchains 39. The runs of these chains are horizontal and toward the frontof the apparatus, the chain-s passing around Similar sprockets 48carried by a shaft 4| journalled at one end in a bearing 42 carried byone of the posts 30. At spaced points therealong, cleats or ribs 43 arecarried by the chains 39, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

A motor 4S serves to drive the chains 39. This motor may be supported inany suitable manner, for example, yby inverted U-shaped members 41secured at their ends as at 48 to two of the horizontal members 32. Asuitable speed reduction gearing 5D, which may be of any desired type,transmits power from the motor to the shaft 4|. The latter shaft carriesa sprocket 5| about which passes a chain 52 for a purpose to bedescribed.

As will be referred to later, the present apparatus is illustrated asemploying two vending units and each unit is shown with three supplystacks for the bottles or other articles to be vended. A device forsupplying successive bottles from each of the stacks of each vendingunit to the upper runs of the conveyor chains 39 is provided. Each ofthese devices is indicated as a whole by the numeral 55 (Figures 3, 5and 6). Each of the devices referred to comprises a shaft 56 journalledat its ends in bearings 5'! secured to upper horizontal frame members 58connected between the pairs of vertical members 30 and 3|` Similarhorizontal members 59 complete the top rectangular bracing of the frame28. Each shaft 56 carries a pair of hubs 62 having radial arms 53projecting therefrom.

One of the devices 55, including its shaft 55, pair of hubs 62 and arms63, is arranged adjacent the bottom of each of the three stacks of eachvending unit as will be referred to later. Gne of the shafts 56 isprovided with a sprocket Se (Figures 2, 3 and 5), and such shaft ispreferably the end shaft of the three of each vending unit. The chain 52previously described passes around the sprocket 66 to drive it in a stepby step movement to be referred to later. The same shaft carries asecond andpreferably smaller sprocket 61 about which passes a chain 68,and such chain passes around a similar sprocket 69 mounted on theintermediate shaft 5B of each vending unit. Such intermediate shaftcarries a second -sprocket 10, and a chain 1| passes around thissprocket and around a similar sprocket 'I2 on the remaining shaft 56.Accordingly it will be apparent that all of the shafts 56 of eachvending unit will be driven at the same time, in the same direction andat the same speed. The operation of the devices 55 takes place in a stepby step movement and each such step turns each of the arms 63 through anangle' equal to onethird of the angle between adjacent arms. or 3U".Each three steps in the operation of the devices 55 will accordinglysimultaneously drop three bottles from the stacks to the chains 39.

As previously stated, eachlvvending unit is provided with three bottlestacks corresponding in number to the number of the bottle droppingdevices 55. It will become apparent that the particular number of stacksand devices 55 of each vending unit is a matter of choice, and severalof the stacks and associated elements preferably are employed since thepresent invention permits their use to greatly increase the capacity ofeach vending unit. Referring to Figures 3 and 5,*the numeral 'I5designates a frame preferablyformed of angle iron or other structuralsections, two of which extend from front to back and are indicated bythe numeral 1B. Each of such structural members is provided withopenings '|1 (Figure 2) similar to the openings 3.4 (Figure 5) toreceive upstanding pins 18 to properly position` the frame 'I5 on thelower frame vstructure 28 previously described. The frame structure 15has secured thereto by welding or any other suitable' means anupstanding stack structure 8|] having an outer Vside wall 8|, theopposite or inner side being open as at 82 (Figure 2), and front andrear walls 83 and 84. The stack structure also includes spacedtransverse walls S5, and these walls, together with the front and rearwalls 83, divide the 'stack structure into three stacks 86, 81 and B8Yas shown in Figure 5. Each of these stacks from front to back issomewhat wider than twice the thickness of the bottles to be vended, andeach of the walls 85 is provided with forwardly extending downwardlyinclined shelves extending across approximately one-halfthe width of theassociated stack, the back wall 84 also being provided with such shelvesas clearly shown in Figure 5. One-half of the front to back width ofeach of the stacks therefore is open throughout its height and isadapted to contain a plurality of superimposed bottles 9| containing abeverage or any other liquid to be dispensed. The spaces between theshelves 98 form pockets each of which is adapted to receive one of thebottles 9|, the shelves 90 being inclined only 'as much as necessary totend to feed the bottles in the pockets toward the open sides of thestacks and the bottles in the pockets being retained therein by bottlesin the open sides of the stacks until the latter free the bottles in thepockets one by one. This operation is believed to be obvious.

' The successive bottles are fed downwardly into the spaces betweensuccessive arms 63 of the dropping devi-ces, the latter elementsobviously turning in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. Thedevices 55 serve to drop successive sets of bottles on the chains 39 andto insure against any possible tilting of the bottle-s downwardly attheir crown ends, a guard rail 92 extends longitudinally oi theapparatus and is preferably provided with a rubber cushion strip as at93, this strip being arranged slightly-below and out of contact with thebottles on the chains so as not to drag thereagainst but beingsufficiently close to prevent the tilting of the bottles substantiallyout of horizontal position. The guard vrail 92 may be supported on oneof the motor supports 4'! by upstanding brackets 94.

To insure the proper endwise positioning oi the bottles, a sheet metalguide 95 is arranged in a vertical position adjacent the crown ends ofthe bottles as shown in Figure 3. The lower portion of the guide plate95 is supported by brackets 96 secured to the posts 30 and 3|. The upperend of the guide plate diverges from the bottles as at 91 and then turnsdownwardly at 98 with the lower free edge of the portion 98 lyinginwardly of and contacting thev inner face of the adjacent structuralmember 'lt to be fixed thereby against movement to the right'as viewedin Figure 3, while at the same time being slidable upwardly for removalwhen necessary or desired. The supporting of the guideplates by thebrackets 96 is accomplished in any desired detachable manner, forexample, by a conventional pin and slot arrangement 96 (Figure 3)whereby the members 95 may be moved upwardly as stated. It will beapparent, therefore, that if an operator in loading the apparatus issomewhat careless in not pushing the bottles completely into positionwith the lower ends contacting the wall 8| (Figure 2) the guide plate 95will move the bottles endwise as they pass through the dropping devices55 so as to properly position thebottles before they are dropped to thechains 39.

As shown in Figure 4, the present apparatus is illustrated as embodyingtwo complete vending units which are adapted to dispense differentflavored beverages, if desired. These units are arranged preferably at asubstantial distance from each other to provide a central space |00. Inthe upper end of this space is preferably arranged the expansion orrefrigerating coils |9| suitably connected to the pipes Il and I8 asindicated in dotted lines in Figure l. In the bottom of the space |00angle iron or similar guideways |02 are arranged and these guidewaysreceive superimposed baskets |03 of beverage bottles 9| to be precooledin the cabinet. It will be apparent that there will be a constantthermal circulation of air in the cabinet, this air moving downwardly inthe space |00 and around the bottles 9! in the baskets |03, if suchbaskets are present, thenceY outwardly toward both ends of vthe cabinetand upwardly through the bottles in the stacks. Ob-. viously, in the useof the, apparatus, the space |001may be kept lled with bottles andas'the dispensing of the bottles from the vending units takes place,they may be replaced with precooled The front of the cabinet |0 in thedispensing section lethereof is provided with a door opening H36 ofsubstantial height and width. A pair of doors l'lV are hinged'at theirouter edges as at #98 to the cabinet and these doors are brought intocooperative relationship when closed with a suitable packing element |09arranged therebetween without the use of a center post. The height ofthe door opening is substantial and allows for the successive removal ofthe stack structure 30 and the entire mechanical structure therebelow.The stack structure has clearance between its upper end and the top oithe cabinet greater than the length of the pins I8 so that, whendesired, the stack structure can be lifted free of the pins 'F9 and thenmoved bodily forwardly through the door opening |06. Thus all of theparts of the apparatus in the vending casing section are fullyaccessible and removable from the cabinet. The doors l of therefrigerating mechanism compartment are similarly formed without acenter post, and accordingly they may be opened for the completeaccessibility and removal of the refrigerating mechanism. The doors |01at their adjacent edges are preferably provided with a finishing stripil@ secured to the right hand door in Figure 2, which is the doornecessarily first opened, and a similar strip (Figure l) may be employedwith respect to the doors |6. The doors |01 may be suitably looked inposition by any desired type of locking mechanism generally indicated bythe numeral H2 in Figure l, and a similar lock H3 may be provided forthe doors I6. Obviously any locking mechanism employed for the doorsforms no` part of the present invention.

As previously stated, the chains 39 are operated in a step by stepmovement and in this operation the top runs of the chains move towardthe front of the cabinet, that is, toward the right as viewed in Figurel. Each operation of the machine by the insertion of the proper coin,as'will be referred to later, moves one of the bottles over theysprockets d0 to be discharged through an opening -HE in'the front oithecabinet. This opening is normally closed by a door lll to prevent theescape of cold air from the cabinet and this door is movableto closedposition by gravity. A bottle discharged from the chains 3S movesthrough the opening H, the weight and inertia of the bottle moving thedoor H1 to a suiciently open position to enable the bottle to movedownwardly over the inclined bottom surface H8 of the opening H5 andinto a substantially semiircular cradle recess i9, part oi which isformed by a preferably rubber member |26 carried bythe outer face of thefront wall of the cabinet. With the bottle in the cradle, the door ||Tis free to swing back to 'closed position.

Any suitable coin controlled mechanism may be employed with theapparatus, such mechanism forming no part of the present invention. Aplate |25: (Figure 1)..is employed 'for each dis' pensing unit and isprovided with a coin slot |25 for' the insertion of the proper coin.Each plate |25 carries a signal l2'l operated `in a manner to bedescribed, and a coin return pocket |23 is arranged at the bottom ofeach plate |25 to return a coin to a customer in accordance with theoperation of the coin controlled mechanism if the apparatus should beempty.

In Figure 8 of the drawings is shown the control circuit for themechanism. A switch |30 forms a part of the coin control mechanism andis operable by the dropping thereon of a coin `3| inserted in one of theslots .|23 The switch i3@ is connected by a wire |32 to one side of asuitable source of current, and the switch inc udes a contact arm 33movable by the coin into engagement with a contact |34 connected to awire 35. This Wireleads to a stationary contact |39 and has a branch |31connected to one terminal of an electromagnet |38. The other terminal ofthis magnet is connected by a wire 39 to a light |40 forming a part ofeach signal 21. From the light |40, a wire |4| leads to one terminal ofthe motor 46, and the other terminal of this motor is connected by awire |42 to a stationary contact |43, a similar and associated contact|44 being connected by a wire |45 to the other terminal of the source.

The contacts |43 and |44 are controlled by a switch |46 shown in detailin Figure 7 of the drawings. This switch comprises a copper or otherconducting plate |41 having a heavy insulating strip |48, preferablyformed of soft rubber, at its upper edge. The plate |41 is verticallyslidable in an insulating casing |49 which carries the contacts 43 and|44, which may be in the form of binding posts as shown in Figure 7.Opposite edges of the plate |41 are notched as at |49 and the contacts|44 are normally electrically connected by engagement with the bottomsof the notches |49', the plate |41 being normally held in its properupper position by a leaf spring |50 or similar means.

The electro-magnet |38 (Figure 8) is provided with an armature |52having a contact |53 engageable with the stationary contact |36, and thecontact |53 is electrically connected to the wire |32 by a branch wire|54.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the apparatus is ready for operation, an attendant willopen the cabinet doors |01, and with the space (Figures 3 and 4) empty,or at least partially empty, bottles will be inserted into the racksfrom the open inner sides 82 thereof (Figure 2) the crown ends of thebottles pointing inwardly toward the center of the apparatus as shown.The three stacks 80 of one unit will be loaded with one kind of beverageand the stacks of the other unit with a different kind of beverage, thenames of flavors of the beverages of the respective units being placedon the front of the cabinet at a suitable point, for example, on thefront of the member |20. Baskets of the two beverage flavors will thenbe loaded in the central precooling space |00, whereupon the apparatusis ready for operation, it being necessary, of course, to initiallyallow a proper length of time for the chilling of the bottles in thestacks of the two units.

To operate the apparatus it merely is necessary for the purchaser toselect the desired beverage iiavor and insert the proper coin in one ofthe slots |26. The coin, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8 by thenumeral I 3| in passing through the coin controlled mechanism willstrike the arm |30 toV engage the contact |33 with the contact |34. Thisoperation will momentarily close the circuit through wire |32, switch|30, wires |35 and |31, electro-magnet |30, wire |39, signal light |40,wire |4| andmotor 46thence back to the source through wire |42, throughthe switch mechanism |46 and wire |45. The switch plate |41 (Figures '1and 8) is normally held in engagement with both contacts |43 and :|44 bythe spring |50, as previously stated.

Energization of the magnet |38 will attract the armature |52 to engagethe contact |53 with the contact |36. It will be obvious that the coin|3| will only momentarily close the switch |30, but the electro-magnet|38 having been energizedin the manner stated to attract its armaturefaholding circuit will be established parallel to the switch |30 throughwire |54, contacts 53 and |36vand wire |31, and thence through there'-mainder of the circuit described above. Accordingly the motor 46 willstart to operate to drive the shaft 4| (Figure 5) through the reductiongearing 50. The shaft 4| drives the chains 39 together with the cleats43 and the bottles on the upper runs of the chains 39, as will befurther referred to below.

The motor will operate until the bottle on the conveyor chains closestto the discharge opening ||6 moves over the sprockets 40 to la suicientextent to be discharged by gravity. Such bottle will thereupon strikeagainst the door ||1 to move it outwardly for the passage of the bottlethrough the discharge opening |6 into the receiver |20 as shown inFigure 5. Almost simultaneously with the opening of the door ||1, thedischarged bottle will strike the insulating strip |48, which ispreferably formed of soft rubber, and the switch plate |41 will be moveddownwardly. Such movement of the switch platev will break the circuit ateither of the contacts |43 or |44, or both, depending upon whether thebottle falls perfectly horizontally or at a slight angle.Instantaneously upon the breaking of the circuit at either or both ofthe points indicated, the circuit through the motor 4S will be broken aswill be obvious in Figure 8. The motor will immediately stop operating,and since the holding circuit for the electro-magnet is in series withthe motor and with the switch |46, the circuit through theelectro-magnet 38 will be broken to drop the armature |52 and break theholding circuit. The armature 52 is thus restored to normal position,and as soon as the discharged bottle passes beyond the switch device 46,the spring |50 will move the plate |41 upwardly to restore the normalelectrical connection of the contacts 43 and |44 ready for'the nextoperation. f Thus all of the electrical control circuits and deviceswill be restored to normal position upon the discharging of a vendedbottle.

The circuit referred to above includes the signal light |40 which willbe illuminated upon the insertion of a coin in the apparatus, and thesignal |21 (Figure 1) will visually indicate to the purchaser that theapparatus is operating. This is desirable since the apparatus isautomatic and not subject to operation by a purchaser, and since theapparatus is extremely quiet in operation, a purchaser might assumeafter the insertion of his coin that the apparatus is not operatingunless a signal of some kind is provided.

It also will be apparent that the operation of the apparatus will alwaysbe initiated by the insertion of a c-oin in one of the slots |21, whilethe stopping of the apparatus is dependent solely upon the dischargingof a bottle or other article. This being the case, it will be obviousthat if no bottles are placed on the conveyor chains when loading theapparatus, this will not 'prevent the purchasers obtaining the bottlefor which he has paid since the apparatus will continue in operation inthe manner to be described until a bottle has been delivered. It ispreferred that no bottles be initially loaded on the chains 39 for thereason that bottles will not fall between each adjacent pair of cleats43, but between every other pair as indicated in Figure 5. An attendantinitially loading the chain might, through carelessness or ignorance,place too many bottles on the conveyor chains which would interfere withthe proper operation of the apparatus. To prevent the loading of thechains, the guide plate 95 is extended downwardly (Figure 3) to such apoint as to prevent access to the chains for this purpose.

It will be obvious that the bottledropping devices 55 of the threestacks of each unit are driven simultaneously through thev chain 52 whenthe motor AS is in operation. A single operation of the apparatus issuch that the bottle shown beneath the center stackin Figure will bemoved to the position now occupied by the bottle under the stack nearestthe discharge opening The transmission ratio afforded by the sprockets5I and 6E is such that a single operati-on of the mechanism will turneach dropping device 55 through one-twelfth of a complete revolution.The arms E3 of the dropping devices being 90 apart and three stacks ofbottles being employed in the present embodiment of the invention foreach vending unit, it will be obvious that each operation turns the armsG3 through 30 or onethird the angle between adjacent arms 53. EX-pressed a different way, it requires three vending operations to turnthe dropping devices through an angle of 90, which is the angle betweenadjacent arms 63. Accordingly it will be apparent that three successiveoperations of the apparatus are required to feed bottles downwardly tothe conveyor chains and such bottles will be dropped simultaneously onthe conveyor chains after the last bottle has been discharged from theconveyor chains to the receiver l 20. The three bottles thus droppedwill subsequently be discharged after three successive vendingoperations, whereupon three additional bottles will be dropped to theconveyor chains. The particular number of stacks dictates the number ofsuccessive `operations before the bottles are dropped to the conveyorchains, and the invention, is not limited to the use of any particularnumber of stacks for leach vending unit. In other words, if two stackswere employed, each turning of the dropping devices would take placethrough 45, thus requiring two successive operations beforetwo bottleswould be dropped to the conveyor chains. y

The same principle appliesl regardless of the number of stacks employedfor each unit. In Figure 6 of the drawings, the arms 63 of the droppingdevice 5-5 illustrated therein have been shown in solid lines in theposition they will occupy after three of the bottles have been dropped.One of the arms has been shown in dotted lines in the successivepositions it will occupy after the first and second subsequent vendingoperations to indicate that the bottle supported by the dropping de vicewill not be released until the Athird operation has taken place. Fromthis view it will be apparent that a number of operations correspondingto the number of stacks of each unit will be required before the bottlesareY dropped to the conveyor chains. Y

Referring to Figure 5 it will bel noted that the sprockets 38 and 40have the vertical planes of their turning axes spaced apart a distancegreater than the rst and third bottles dropped on the chains. This isimportant inasmuch as any solid support beneath the bottles at thepoints where they strike the chains are eliminated, the chains providinga highly desirable cushioning action to prevent possible breakage of thebottles, While the arms 63 of each vdropping device are accurately aimedas shown in Figure 3, there is a chance that the bottles dropping freelyto the chains lmay tilt slightly before or when striking the conveyorchains. To prevent any possibility that a bottle might thus becomedisplaced, the rail e2 is provided and preferably has the cushion strip93 extending across its upper edge. Any tendency of the bottle to tiltwill cause the bottle to come into engagement with the cushion strip 93,thus arresting its swinging movement so that it will immediately come torest in a horizontal position on the conveyor chains. The strip 93 isarranged in such position that it is normally out of contact with thebottles at rest on the chains, and accordingly introduces no element offriction against the bottles when the conveyor is operated.

l't will be obvious that the use of a plurality of bottle stacks ofthetype clearly shown in Figure 5 substantially increases the capacityof each vending unit. As the bottles are dispensed, those lying in theopen sides of the stacks 86, 81 and 38 will partake of unirnpededdownward movement except as such movement is controlled by the droppingdevices 55. After the uppermost bottle in the free side of a stackpasses the bottle on the uppermost shelf 90, the latter will roll bygravity into the free side of the stack to follow downwardly behind thebottles therein. Each successive bottle on the next lower shelf willsimilarly follow behind the bottles in the free side of the stack untileach stack is empty.

'From time to time an attendant will inspect the apparatus to replenishthe stacks when necessary, and this attention need be infrequent becauseof the capacity of the plurality of stacks. When necessary to replenishthe stacks, the -operator will open the doors l0?, remove bottles fromthe trays H33 and insert them into the open sides 82 of the stacks, thebottles in the trays m3 having been precooled, and chilled to atemperature suitable for vending before being loaded in the stacks. Thetrays H33 are then reloaded, and the doors l'i closed and locked.

The space me (Figures 2, 3 and 4) will lie in the center of theapparatus where two vending units are employed and obviously will be atone side in a single unit apparatus. This space is important from apractical standpoint since it renders it almost impossible to exhaustthe supply of chilled bottles in the apparatus. This is true because `ofthe substantial capacity of the stacks of each vending unit and thestorage capacity for bottles in the space or chamber'l. In thisconne-ction attention is also invited to the fact that the placing ofthe cooling coils at the top of the space i60 provides for an eiectivecool air circulation so that bottles in the ltrays |03 will be quicklyand eliectively cooled while the bottles the stacks will be retained ata relatively low temperature. The air chilled by the coils itl will flowdownwardly around the bottles in the trays lil, and in a two-unitmachine, the air at the bottom. of the spaceiii will divide to iiowoutwardly and thence upwardly through and around the vending units. Muchof this air is free to iiow directly upwardly around and between thebottles in the stacks to chill them. and to retain them cooled aftertheir temperature has been properly lowered.

While a number of bottles correspondingr to the number of stacks of eachvending unit are simultaneously dropped on the conveyor chains, only onebottle at a time will be vended and the delivery of each bottleautomatically and positively stops the further operation of themechanism. The arrangement is such that operation of the mechanismhaving been initiated, it will continue until a bottle of beverage isdelivered. The plate 95 extends downwardly across the inner sides of theconveyor chains to prevent an attendant from having access to thechains, and thus prevent his placing bottles on the chains when chargingthe apparatus. This is desirable since an operator might place fivebottles of beverage on the chains of the apparatus as illustratedinstead of three as shown in Figure 5, in which case the normaloperation of the apparatus would be interfered with. When the apparatusis charged, the insertion of a proper coin will start the apparatus inoperation and such operf ation will continue as previously describeduntil the rst set of bottles is dropped on to the conveyor chains andone of the bottles is delivered to the purchaser to operate the switchdevice |46 (Figures 7 and 8) whereupon the operation of the apparatuswill be stopped as stated.

The making of the door opening |06 and doors |01 as shown in Figure 2with no central dividing post provides for complete and unimpeded accessto the interior of the apparatus for loading the vending units and forYplacing the trays |03 in position. Moreover, such arrangement, togetherwith the mounting of the elements of the vending apparatus in thevending section of the cabinet, permits the ready and complete removalof the vending units. The pins 33 (Figure 5) position the vendingstructure 28 on the partition 2|, while the pins 'I8 (Figures 3 and 5)similarly position each stack structure 80 with respect to the vendingmechanism. When it is necessary to service the apparatus for any reason,the guide plate 95 of the unit to be serviced will be moved upwardly asthe forward end thereof is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 3,thus disconnecting the guide plate from the apparatus. Then theassociated stack structure 80 may be lifted sufficiently to clear thepins 1S, whereupon it may be removed from the cabinet through the dooropening |06. Thereafter, the vending mechanism may be similarly elevatedto clear the bottom of the door opening |06, then moved laterally ashort distance until the chain drive mechanism is clear of the dooropening after which the mechanism may be removed through the dooropening |06. Any desired service may be performed and the parts then maybe easily returned to normal position, it being unnecessary to bolt orotherwise secure the mechanism in the cabinet.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present apparatusprovides a novel dispensing mechanism which is particularly adapted foruse in dispensing chilled bottles of beverages. Moreover, the particularvending mechanism makes it possible to substantially increase thecapacity of the apparatus, thus reducing the frequency with which theapparatus must be loaded with bottles and insuring the maintenance ofsuch capacity that the purchaser is never delivered an unchilled bottleof beverage.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. .A dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical containerseach vadapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, afeeding device arranged beneath each container and adapted to supportthe articles therein, a conveyor arranged beneath said feeding devices,means for advancing said conveyor in a given step to dispense an articlethereon, and vmeans for simultaneously operating said feeding devicesand said conveyor advancing means, said operating means and said feedingdevices being so constructed and arranged that upon the advancing ofsaid conveyor in a number of steps corresponding to the number of saidcontainers, said feeding devices will simultaneously release an articlefrom each container to Abe dropped by gravity to said conveyor.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising a cabinet having a dispensingopening, a plurality of vertical article holding containers arranged ina common plane in said cabinet and each having an open bottom, parallelshafts arranged in a horizontal plane and each oiset from the openbottom of one of said containers, a plurality of radial arms carried byeach shaft, each shaft being rotatable through an angle of movementcorresponding to the angle between adjacent arms whereby a pair ofadjacent arms drop an article and the next succeeding adjacent pair ofarms receive the next lowest article, an endless conveyor having itsupper run extending beneathI and transversely of said shafts to receivearticles dropped from the several containers, Imeans forv driving saidconveyor to deliver an article through said dispensing opening, andpower means for simultaneously rotating said shafts and operating saidconveyordriving means, said power means :being so constructed andarranged as to rotate said shafts through said angle of movement; uponsuccessive 'operations of said conveyor correspending in number to thenumber of said conta-iners.

3. A dispensing apparatus comprising a, plurality of containers forelongated cylindrical articles, each container having a bottom deliveryopening, delivery means normally supporting the articles in eachcontainer, a horizontal endless r conveyor beneath said delivery means,each delivery means being operable to separate the lowermost article intheassociated container and drop it by gravity to the upper run of saidconveyor, said conveyor having wheels around which the ends of theconveyor pass, said wheels being spaced apart a distance greater thanthe distance between the furthest remote delivery openings whereby allarticles dropped on said conveyor will be cushioned by the upper runthereof, and m'eansfo'r simultaneously operating said conveyor through agiven step and operating said delivery means, 'said simultaneousoperating means being so constructed and arranged Athat all of saiddelivery means will simultaneously drop articles to said conveyor uponVa number of operations of said conveyor corresponding to the number ofsaid containers.

4. Apparatus constructed in accordance With claim 3 provided with guideplate means engageable with Vone end of each dropped article to positionit endwise thereof on said conveyor, and means adjacent said conveyorfor limiting downward tilting movement of the articles away fromhorizontal position as they drop on said conveyor.

5. An apparatus for dispensing elongated articles comprising a containerfor holding a supply of the articles in a horizontal position, aconveyor having its upper run extending beneath said container, meansfor separating the lowerrnost article from said container and droppingit by gravity to said conveyor, a guide plate for horizontally shiftingany vertically misalined article before it reaches said conveyor, meansfor simultaneously operating said conveyor to dispense an articletherefrom and for operating said first named means to drop an article onsaid conveyor to be dispensed thereby upon a succeeding operationthereof, wheels around which said conveyor passes, said wheels beingspaced apart on opposite sides of the point at which the article isdropped on said conveyor to thereby cushion the article, and means forlimiting downward tilting movement of the dropped article away fromhorizontal position.

CARL C. COLBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS W Number

